Who Would Visit a Dark, Depressed Island? Cubans Explain Tourism Decline

The state-run outlet Cubadebate has acknowledged a downturn in tourism in Cuba, prompting locals to share their views on why visitors might be avoiding the island. In a piece questioning whether the "economic engine has stalled," Cubadebate largely attributes the decline in tourism during the first half of 2025 to a "complex interplay of global, regional, and domestic factors." However, from the perspective of everyday Cubans, the real question is: "Who would want to visit a country without power and filled with disheartened people?"

One online commentator pointed out, "Tourists are humans too, and who would choose to go to a place with no electricity, where people are dispirited, and this affects tourism workers who arrive each day without sleep, worried about what to eat, when to do laundry or cook, etc."

"Our joy is fading away each day," another Cuban lamented. "Tourists seek not just white sandy beaches but also the human warmth, the empathy of Cubans, the vibrancy in the streets. Instead, they encounter a disgusting scene—there's a stench, not the illness kind, but a bad odor. We're so used to it we don't notice, but there's trash everywhere, sewage, bugs, mosquitoes, flies, even the food in hotels has worsened, I'm told, though I haven't been in years. It's impossible this way; there are a thousand wonderful destinations worldwide."

In a stark reply to the state media, another user recounted their recent experience at a five-star hotel in Varadero, "There were no eggs for four days—a basic breakfast item for many. The treatment was awful. Workers from Santa Marta, Cárdenas, and Matanzas never rest because they have no electricity. So, any foreigner who visits won't come back or recommend it... Not to mention the multiple currencies, which only we understand."

Tourism Challenges and Economic Impact

A different Cuban warned that the future looks even bleaker: "As long as hotels depend on assigned budgets, are managed by former military personnel, and workers are paid in CUP while hotels operate in foreign currency, in a year there will be 0% visitors."

Another Cuban expressed dismay at the state of the nation: "In a country where misery is more than evident, scarcity and unsanitary conditions echo a rotten and messed-up government system, tourists no longer buy into the paradise island narrative. They know full well it's a corrupt and unsafe country."

Some users also shared that they wouldn't recommend Cuba to foreigners: "It's sad that the land you were born in and love can't be recommended to anyone."

Reflecting on the power issues, another remarked, "In a country that's more often in the dark than lit, what did they expect? Streets in Cuba are practically lifeless, recreational centers, bars, restaurants, etc., don't function as they should due to lack of electricity, and hotels face logistical problems... but we all know who they blame."

Finally, one Cuban sarcastically questioned, "What tourist would want to come?" adding, "They’re supposed to come to relax and enjoy, not to get stressed, and those of us left here, the vast majority are desperate to leave too!"

Official Statistics and Economic Realities

Tourism numbers have been dismal. By June, Cuba welcomed 1,306,650 travelers, 319,654 fewer than the same period in 2024, according to the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI). International visitors numbered 981,856, a drop of 327,799 compared to 2024, marking a 25% decrease overall.

The anticipated influx of Russian tourists, a market the regime has targeted to revitalize the struggling Cuban economy, also plummeted. Only 63,708 Russian tourists arrived by the end of June—a significant reduction of 48,999 compared to the previous year, when 112,707 visited.

Canada, traditionally Cuba's largest tourism market, also saw a sharp decline, with visitors dropping from 577,624 to 428,125.

This decline deepens a trend observed by the end of May, with 303,299 fewer visitors than the same period in 2024. These figures underscore that the tourism decline is not merely temporary but structural. Hotel occupancy in the first quarter was only 24.1%, meaning over 75% of capacity was unused, even during the high season.

Overnight stays fell from over 5 million to 3.6 million, and revenues plummeted by 21.5%, from 44,411 million to 34,860 million Cuban pesos, according to official figures. The Meliá hotel chain reported a 20.8% drop in income per available room and an average occupancy of 40.5%, highlighting Cuba's poor performance compared to other Caribbean destinations.

"International tourism didn't fill even a quarter of hotel capacity in the first quarter. This is worse than 2024 and contradicts the official recovery narrative," warned economist Pedro Monreal.

Despite this situation, the Cuban regime continues to invest in hotel construction and tourism infrastructure, a strategy heavily criticized by economists and industry experts. However, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero persists in claiming tourism will be the "engine of the Cuban economy," despite the sector's ongoing decline and failure to meet plans for over three years.

In June, before the National Assembly, Marrero reiterated the same rhetoric, insisting that "a prosperous tourism sector will generate income, jobs, and development."